Just Keep Shoveling!

These last few days we have continued with our task of shoveling and hauling gravel up to our work site. It’s a hard job, but it's fun. By the end of the day everyone is covered in white dust. The team members enjoy going to the store at the base and getting cold Cokes and Fantas after work. We also went through and put up the wall and the sleu for the Malagasies' Booth Camp. It's been fun to work alongside the students and staff! The highlight of the week was a trip to the beach on Saturday. We left after lunch and didn't come back until after dinner. We all had so much fun swimming in the ocean and playing in the sand! The beach was beautiful and the water was so blue. After the beach, we drove to a restaurant and got some pizza, hamburgers, milkshakes, and ice cream! We finished the day by driving to a local spot to see a large baoboa tree, one of the things that Madagascar is known for, and we got to watch the sun set on the ocean. It was so beautiful, and we all enjoyed taking pictures. It was good to leave the base and to get to see some of Madagascar. On Sunday we got to visit one of the churches, which was a pretty cool experience. The Malagasies love to sing loudly and to dance during worship. It's fun to watch the team members try to keep up with all of the dance moves. We were blessed to have a translator so that we could understand the sermon, which made our experience even more enjoyable. It was such an encouragement to worship with our brothers and sisters here in Madagascar. This next week we'll go through and start doing some steel tying and then hope to pour the concrete floor in our work project on Thursday. It's going to take a lot of work to pour the floor, so pray that we will have a good work ethic and that we will all stay safe. We've been having such a good time here working and are enjoying getting to serve the Lord. Thank you all for your prayers!

Salama(hello), friends and family! God has been so good here in Mahajanga. So far, our team has been working hard clearing the property, setting up the obstacle course for boot camp, and hauling all the materials we need to continue our work project. Seeing the interactions and the fire to serve the Lord in our team has been a huge blessing to my heart. I cannot wait to see what else God has in store for us throughout the rest of the summer. We appreciate all of the prayers from home and look forward to sharing more with you all then! -Zachary W.

It's been a journey, but I'm having fun! Madagascar has snuck its way into my heart in a way no other country has. The people, the culture, the land...it's all so beautiful. I spend a majority of my time in the kitchen, but when we go out, I absolutely love it. My joy is getting to serve this team by feeding them and taking care of them when they're sick. Please pray for health and strength as we keep serving the Lord here in Madagascar! -Mariana W.

This trip has been great. God has taught me to love and be kind to others. We have been able to experience the churches in Madagascar. We have played with the kids and the students here. My favorite part has been playing soccer and basketball with them. I've enjoyed it. -Caleb K.

As we've been on the field so far, I've learned so much about communicating with people who are of a different culture. The church services we have been to so far have shown me how powerful the Holy Spirit is and how the church truly is one, even across continents. Working on a project that will help the people here at the base in Madagascar is such a privilege, and it's so clear to me how God is working through us. Despite our different nationalities, we are all children of God. -Londyn D.<








br />